Craps for Beginners: Which Bets Are Basic and Which Are the Riskiest

Craps looks chaotic at first because chips fly to different parts of the table and the stick calls numbers fast. Under the noise, the game is simple: most “serious” bets are built around the same maths, while the flashy one-roll wagers are where the casino’s advantage usually jumps. If you’re learning in 2026, the best approach is still the same—start with the bets that mirror the dice probabilities, then treat high-edge side wagers as optional entertainment, not a foundation.

How a Craps Round Works and Why “Basic Bets” Exist

A round has two phases. First is the come-out roll: a 7 or 11 wins Pass Line; a 2, 3, or 12 loses Pass Line (with 12 pushing on many Don’t Pass bets). Any other number (4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10) becomes the point, and the game shifts into the point phase.

In the point phase, the shooter keeps rolling until either the point repeats (Pass Line wins) or a 7 appears (Pass Line loses). That structure is the reason “line” bets are considered basic: they track the core win condition of the game rather than a single unlikely outcome.

When people say a bet is “basic” in craps, they usually mean two things: it’s easy to follow, and the house edge is relatively low compared with the rest of the table. Pass Line and Don’t Pass are the classic examples, and they also unlock the most important add-on bet in craps: Odds.

The Core Line Bets: Pass, Don’t Pass, Come and Don’t Come

Pass Line is the standard beginner bet. Statistically, its house edge is about 1.41% in typical rules. Don’t Pass is the mirror version (betting against the shooter) and is slightly better for value at about 1.36%, though some players avoid it for social reasons—purely etiquette, not maths.

Come and Don’t Come work like Pass and Don’t Pass, but you can place them after a point is established. Think of a Come bet as “starting a new Pass Line bet in the middle of the hand”: the next roll acts like a mini come-out for that wager. They’re still considered basic because they follow the same probabilities and keep the house edge in the low range.

A key detail for beginners: a 12 often pushes on Don’t Pass and Don’t Come (table rules can differ). That single rule tweak is part of why Don’t bets aren’t dramatically better than Pass/Come, even though they win more often once a point is set. Always glance at the layout wording on the felt—it tells you how 12 is treated.

Low-Risk Bets With Better Value: Odds and Sensible Place Bets

The single best-value concept in craps is the Odds bet placed behind a Pass/Come (or Don’t Pass/Don’t Come) after a point is set. Odds pay at true odds, meaning the house edge on the Odds portion is effectively 0%. The casino still has an advantage overall because the original line bet has an edge, but Odds don’t add extra cost per pound staked.

If your table allows 2x, 3-4-5x, or even higher Odds, you can reduce the combined house edge by putting more of your total stake into Odds and less into the flat line bet. The trade-off is variance: bigger Odds means bigger swings, even if the long-term value improves.

Among non-line bets, Place 6 and Place 8 are widely considered the most reasonable “working bets” because their house edge is relatively low (about 1.52% at standard payouts). Place 5 and 9 are notably worse (about 4%), and Place 4 and 10 are worse again (about 6.67%). They’re not “terrible” in a single session, but they’re not in the same value tier as line+Odds.

Buy vs Place, and When “Safer” Still Means Volatile

Some tables offer Buy bets on 4 and 10 with a commission (often 5%). If the commission is taken only when you win, the effective house edge can be much lower than placing 4/10, and many experienced players prefer Buy 4/10 for that reason. If the commission is taken up front regardless of outcome, the value worsens—so the payment method matters, not just the name of the bet.

For Don’t players, Lay bets are the equivalent of buying against a number: you lay odds to win a smaller amount. Like Buy bets, the commission rules vary, and they influence the effective cost. In practice, if you’re new, it’s fine to keep it simple: Don’t Pass plus (if you’re comfortable) laying Odds behind it, and avoid extra paid features until you’re sure how the table charges vig.

Even “good value” bets can feel risky if your staking is too large. Craps has streaks because 7s cluster and avoid points at random. A bet with low house edge is not a guarantee of short-term success; it’s just a slower expected loss rate. If you want the low-risk experience, the real control is bet sizing—small base bets, consistent units, and no chasing after a cold run.

The Riskiest Bets on a Typical Table: Where the House Edge Jumps

The highest-risk category is proposition (one-roll) betting in the centre. These bets look exciting because they can pay big quickly, but they’re priced with a steep house edge. “Any 7” is a common example: it hits 6 ways out of 36 but often pays 4:1, which leaves a large expected disadvantage (about 16.67%).

Many “horn” style bets (2, 3, 11, 12) and “any craps” also tend to be expensive in value terms. For instance, “any craps” (2, 3, 12) has 4 winning combinations out of 36, and standard payouts create a double-digit house edge. You might win occasionally, but the maths is working hard against you every roll.

Hardways are another classic trap for beginners. A hard 6 or hard 8 (e.g., 3-3 or 4-4) can be fun to sweat, but standard payouts make the house edge high (often around 9%–11% depending on the number). The bet also loses if the easy version rolls first (like 5-1 for a 6), which means you can be “right about the total” and still lose.

A Practical Checklist to Spot Risky Wagers (and Safer Swaps)

If the bet can resolve on the next roll and pays a headline number like 7:1, 15:1, or 30:1, assume it’s high-risk unless you’ve checked the house edge. One-roll bets are not automatically bad for having fun, but they are bad as a steady strategy because each roll pays the casino a premium.

If a bet is basically “marketing on the felt” (Big 6/Big 8, many novelty side bets, some bonus features tied to rare sequences), treat it with caution. Big 6/Big 8 is a well-known example: it usually has a much higher house edge than simply placing the 6 or 8, even though it looks like the same idea. The safer swap is straightforward—Place 6/8 instead of Big 6/8.

If you want a simple beginner set-up that keeps risk sensible, a common template is: Pass Line (or Don’t Pass if you prefer), take Odds when allowed, and optionally add Place 6 and Place 8 in small units. When you feel tempted by the middle, make it a deliberate choice—one small prop bet for entertainment—then go back to the basic structure so your session isn’t dominated by high-edge volatility.